Dance with Me

A band plays on the pageant stage and hundreds, maybe even a thousand people, sit on the grass, listening. I sit with Olivia, Roman, Mary Kelly, and Teresita. Olivia wears Teresita’s tiara, and Teresita has changed into shorts and a T-shirt. She won a hundred dollars from the cockfight, although she can’t tell anyone since she’s underage.

Lucky, lucky. Everyone around me is lucky today. Is it my turn next?

I study the faces in the crowd, searching for Tata. I haven’t seen him all day. My watch says it’s three o’clock. He’s probably at the house, barbecuing fish for the family fiesta.

Mrs. Cruz passes by the stage. John Wayne follows her, dragging a little red wagon behind him. Inside the wagon are boxes that say Star-Kist Tuna. Mrs. Cruz bought only two tickets, but they were lucky. She won a prize anyway.

A few brave couples start to dance in front of the stage.

“Come on, Olivia,” Mary Kelly says. “Let’s dance. I learned how to cha-cha today.”

Olivia takes Mary Kelly’s hand and they walk closer to the stage.

Roman yawns and stretches his arms above his head. He peers at me out of the corners of his eyes. “Want to dance?” he asks.

I don’t answer. I just stand and let my feet do the talking. One, two, cha-cha-cha.

Food and Family

We leave the village celebration to go home to our families’ fiestas. Teresita walks with her mom to her auntie’s home and Roman takes off for his house.

Today will be like Christmas, with the special food, music, and family. Auntie Minerva will be there, along with Uncle Fernando and Auntie Bernadette. And Tata’s other brothers and sisters and my cousins from the village of Barrigada. Auntie Bernadette even invited Mary Kelly’s family. Strangers from around the island will wander into our yard and our neighbors’ for plates of food or drinks. “Want some more?” we’ll ask. “Take a plate with you.” At fiesta everybody is our friend. It’s the Guam way.

Fiesta

A line of people has formed by the cabana. On the table there is pancet, red rice, frittata, and all the food I love—the dishes served at every fiesta, wedding, christening, and rosary, except golai hagun sune. Auntie Minerva doesn’t bring her dry chicken kelaguen. She brings her dry shrimp kelaguen. Auntie Bernadette brings lumpia, fanihe, and tamales.

Near the cabana Tata barbecues fish. Mrs. Cruz, Ana, Carmella, and Dominic head our way. Dr. and Mrs. Johnson arrive with a white box filled with pink strawberry cupcakes.

My cousin Hernando plays his guitar, and Olivia dances to the beat. I wish today could last forever.

For a moment, I wonder where Frank is, but I quickly push the thought away.

Right as I finish filling my plate, Auntie Bernadette runs from our house, her good hand waving high in the air. “Vincent, come quick!” she yells.

And I know before she says it that it’s Frank.

I Hat